Mission StatementThe James House Intervention/Prevention Services, Inc. provides support, advocacy and education for people in the Tri-Cities area who are affected by domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking, to empower them to become healthy, safe and self-sufficient.

MissionThe James House Intervention/Prevention Services, Inc. provides support, advocacy and education for people in the Tri-Cities area who are affected by domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking, to empower them to become healthy, safe and self-sufficient.

Impact

The James House enjoys the distinction of having been recognized by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (VSDVAA) in 2006 for Outstanding Community Collaboration. We are also proud recipients of The Cameron Foundation’s 2008 Cleveland A. Wright Award for Outstanding Community Service and their 2012 Excellence in Organizational Management Award. We partnered with former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and VA Delegate Riley Ingram to launch the Tri-Cities Regional Domestic Violence Taskforce in 2005, and our advocates won VSDVAA's 2009 Purple Ribbon Award and 2010 Teal Ribbon Award for innovative and outstanding advocacy services.

In order to provide the highest level of service, our board of directors, staff and volunteers maintain values that include integrity, competence, accountability, confidentiality and respect for people’s rights.

Our advocates understand the complexity of sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking issues. We work continuously toward providing services that reflect the change and growth in our locality in order to keep pace with the needs of our community members. We are accredited by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance to provide cost-free services that foster emotional, social and economic stability.

We provide mission-driven, client-centered, culturally relevant services which help clients create outcomes that address life satisfaction, hope and optimism, empowerment and knowledge about the issues associated with domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking. Our ultimate goal is to assure client self-sufficiency and sustainable change through coaching and empowering strategies.

The James House works within broader movements to realize a just and equitable world free of violence. We embrace and respect differences in national origin, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/ expression, ethnicity, mental/physical capabilities, religious beliefs and/or financial status.

Since 1989, The James House has provided advocacy services for more than 15,000 individuals.

Needs

When you support The James House, you invest in quality, informed, appropriate services. We are a fiscally sound, well-managed organization that has stayed true to its mission.

Your financial support will allow us to provide case management services for our clients. For example, for every $25 you donate, one family receives one session; a $50 donation supports transportation for three families to and from a support group. Our goal is to raise $250,000 between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015.

We also seek highly motivated people to serve on the board of directors. The James House board is undergoing capacity building, and your time commitment would be approximately 10 hours per month.

Our organization needs committed and caring volunteers to assist our advocates with community outreach and hot line services. A minimum of 40 hours of training and successful completion of a background check is required, and you will be asked to donate between four and 36 hours of your time each month, depending on your areas of expertise.

Background

The James House Intervention/Prevention Services, formerly known as The Survivor‘s Resource Center and The Sexual Assault Outreach Program (SAOP), is a 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to minimize the physical and/or psychological trauma for people affected by sexual and domestic violence through the provision of direct services, while reducing the incidences of interpersonal violence through public education, community outreach, and prevention programs.

The program was launched in 1989 at John Randolph Hospital. In September 1995 the hospital became a for-profit entity when it was sold to Columbia HCA Hospitals. By February 1996, SAOP received its own non-profit status and moved into the community with the John Randolph Foundation. In July 1996 SAOP became fully autonomous and was governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. In May of 2000, SAOP changed its name to The James House Intervention/Prevention Services. Today, we proudly celebrate 25 years of outstanding community service.

CEO Statement

By providing mission driven, client centered, culturally relevant services through case management plans, we help clients create outcomes that address life satisfaction, hope and optimism, empowerment and knowledge about issues associated with interpersonal violence and the services available to address these issues. Our ultimate goal is to assure client self-sufficiency and sustainable change through coaching and empowering strategies. We believe that it is imperative for agencies to work in harmony to eliminate duplication of services and to maximize each agency’s resources. As part of the Richmond area regional domestic and sexual violence response collaborative, we're working with other programs to address gaps in services and more fully meet the needs of children, women and men impacted by interpersonal violence.

Board Chair Statement

I am excited to serve as The James House’ 2015 chairman and look forward to working in concert with our CEO to lead the agency during another phase of agency growth. Having worked with multiple consultants over the past three years, the Board as a whole is functioning at a much higher level. Our attendance has drastically improved, our subcommittees are fully functioning and include non-board members, our fundraising has increased by 100% and our Director of Donor Relations is leading the board in an effort to significantly diversify our funding streams.

It's an exciting time for us as we move to Prince George County. We are doubling our office space while creating a separate children's play area and adding a Board room. We hope you'll stop in for a look.

Oh behalf of The James House, thank you for your interest and support.

Areas of Service

Areas Served

Area

Tri-cities Region

Chester

Colonial Heights, City

Dinwiddie County

Ettrick

Hopewell, City

Matoaka

Petersburg, City

Prince George County

Sussex County

Charles City County

The James House serves people in the Tri-Cities area. Our primary service locations include the cities of Hopewell, Petersburg and Colonial Heights and the counties of Dinwiddie, Prince George and southern Chesterfield including Chester, Ettrick, Matoaca and Enon. Secondary locations are counties where other services may exist and we support those service providers as backup when needed. Those counties include Charles City, Sussex and Surry.

The tables below contain information about other groups that advise this nonprofit on operations and projects.

Comments

Our Board is comprised of invested community members, with a passion for our mission and a commitment to excellence. We have several community members serving on subcommittees, which are chaired by Board members and we welcome the public to attend our meetings anytime.

Executive Director

Executive Director Chana Ramsey

Experience

A 2014 Allen and Allen Hometown Hero, the CEO served as an court-appointed special advocate and volunteer program manager with Southside Area CASA before joining The James House in October 2001. Serves on the Governing Body of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (VSDVAA), chairperson of VSDVAA Accreditation Committee, past president of the Rotary Club of Prince George County, past chairperson of Central State Hospital Local Human Rights Committee, past chairperson of the Petersburg Domestic Violence Taskforce. Appointed to the Virginia State Crime Commission's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Funding Study Group (HB 885) in June 2014.

Our client services coordinators understand the complexity of sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking issues. We work continuously toward providing services that reflect the change and growth in our locality in order to keep pace with the needs of our community members. We are accredited by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance to provide cost-free services that foster emotional, social and economic stability. Services include: safety planning, shelter, crisis intervention, 24-hour hotline access, peer counseling, case management, financial assistance and legal advocacy. We serve adults and children, as well as non-offending partners and family members who have been impacted by the violence. Services are provided in English and in Spanish.

Population ServedVictims

Budget$150,000.00

Short Term SuccessClients will have access to appropriate support services in order to overcome abuse and live healthy, safe lives.

Long Term SuccessThose seeking services will be free from abuse, able to live productive lives.

DescriptionWe provide support groups, counseling and resources for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and for sexual violence survivors. We also work with non-offending partners and family members.

Population ServedVictims

Budget$150,000.00

Short Term SuccessClients will have access to appropriate support services in order to overcome abuse and live healthy, safe lives.

Long Term SuccessPeople impacted by sexual violence will overcome the abuse and live safe, healthy lives.

Domestic and sexual violence are community concerns, and it takes a coordinated response to build a violence-free community. We work in close partnership with multiple agencies and service providers to ensure that our clients have access to all available resources needed to keep themselves and their children safe.

We build and develop ideas through collaborative leadership, offering technical and staff support for local taskforces. Taskforce membership offers professionals a forum to address the issues of sexual and domestic violence, network, learn from one another, problem-solve, and develop strategies to improve community response. Membership includes representatives from law enforcement, Social Services, Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Offices, area universities, hospitals, schools and other concerned individuals.

The James House is committed to spreading awareness about domestic and sexual violence and its impact on not just people who have experienced it, but our community as a whole. We provide fun, interactive and interesting presentations and workshops for law enforcement, civic organizations, houses of worship, schools, businesses and many other types of groups. We tailor our presentations to meet the needs of each group.

Budget$50,000.00

Short Term SuccessAll participants will have a clearer understanding of interpersonal violence and its impact on the survivor, the family, and the community.

Long Term SuccessOur community will have a cleared understanding of sexual and domestic violence, and will work together, proactively, to create a community free from interpersonal violence.

Our full-time child/youth educator is Spanish-speaking bilingual and works proactively to address the needs of children impacted by sexual and domestic violence, Our programs, including Safe Dates, Choose Respect, MAP The Way and REACT are evidence-based and structured to empower children, teens and their care-takers to develop healthy coping skills. Our mobile activity fun bus allows us to take fun, interactive playtime into low-income neighborhoods, church yards and community events.

Population ServedChildren and Youth (0 - 19 years)

Budget$80,000.00

Short Term SuccessChildren will receive appropriate and helpful services and support, increasing their ability to overcome abuse.

Long Term SuccessChildren will lead happy, healthy, safe lives, free from abuse.

CEO/ED/Board Comments

The James House is the only sexual and domestic violence intervention and prevention program in the Tri-Cities area of Virginia. Our programs are fully accredited by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. All services are completely free and confidential, and are provided by fully trained, empathetic counselors. Advocates are able to identify and address multiple needs, and to provide appropriate referrals in order to assist our clients in meeting needs outside the scope of our work. Our focus is clear; sexual and domestic violence intervention and prevention for adults and children, and community education on issues of interpersonal violence.

The James House contracts with 501 Advisors to work with the finance committee, treasurer, CEO and book keeper in order to ensure proper financial oversight. The James House's books are open for your inspection. Please call to make an appointment. You will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement in order to protect our donors' and clients' privacy.